2 DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE “… the NEPAD Framework Document and the Declaration identify, among others, democracy and good political governance as preconditions and foundations of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty. The overall objective is to consolidate a constitutional political order in which democracy, respect for human rights, the rule of law, separation of powers and effective, responsive public service are realised to ensure sustainable development and a peaceful and stable society.” NEPAD/HSGIC-03-2003/APRM/OSCI, 9 March 2003 2.1 Overview 1. The overarching objectives of NEPAD are the promotion of sustainable human development, the eradication of poverty, continental economic and political integration, and global competitiveness. Human development requires the mobilisation of human and material resources, as well as the establishment of various kinds of cooperation and partnership between governments, the civil society and the private sector, and between the peoples, governments and various other organisations at both the national and international levels. Democracy and political governance thus constitute one of the major commitments of NEPAD. 2. Democracy is a system of governance in which people effectively and meaningfully participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives and livelihood. Politics is the process by which values, goods and services are allocated in society. Governance is the art and skill of utilising political or collective power for the management of society at all levels economic, social and political from the smallest village to the largest nation. Arts and skills are the products of knowledge, information, education, training, cultures, traditions, natural endowments, motivations and commitments to goals. Democracy and good political governance are basic foundations for the promotion of human development and the alleviation of poverty and, indeed, for reaching NEPAD's overarching objectives. 3. Ghana was the first African country to organise successful anti-colonial struggles and achieve independence from Britain in 1957. In this respect, the country was a trailblazer and a torchbearer for those African colonial territories engaged in their respective struggles for independence. Ghanaians embraced their independence with enthusiasm and determination, and it became a model to be emulated by the rest of the colonised 13